Camp Need aims to collect donations

If Bethel Church of the Nazarene congregants show up for services on Nov. 5 in flannel shirts, long johns and woolly mittens, the Rev. Jim Clifton will excuse their outdoorsy attire.

Clifton may have on similar clothes because he is one of about 30 adults and teenagers who plan to camp in the church’s parking lot at 1111 S. Thor St. on Nov. 4. The campers will be participating in the Camp Need donation drive, which will benefit Cup of Cool Water, Anna Ogden Hall, Union Gospel Mission and the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. Collections will be taken from 10 a.m. Nov. 4 until 10 a.m. Nov. 5.

The donation drive was started three years ago by the church’s mission council.

“We do a lot of overseas mission work, and we realized we have needy people in our own city who we can reach out to,” said Sonya Miller, church administrator.

Campers can bring sleeping bags, but not tents. They will make shelters out of cardboard boxes as they try to “re-create the homeless experience.” More than 10,000 pounds of donations were collected at last year’s Camp Need.

Throughout the night, people are encouraged to drop by and donate blankets, scarves, gloves, toiletry and hygiene items, diapers, baby wipes, formula and nonperishable foods. Specific charities may be requested by the donors. Checks also can be written to Bethel Nazarene.

For more information, call the church at 534-7751.